CROOKSTON, Minn. – More than 1,400 employees at University of Minnesota campuses, including in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Morris who are Teamster members, have said they’re not returning to work until the university system is willing to return to negotiate a new contract.
The union has been looking for a 3.5% wage increase. The two sides have been negotiating since March and the union voted down a final offer on Friday, September 5.
“The University of Minnesota refused to meet the needs of 1,400 workers across its system who represent custodial, maintenance, food service, sanitation, and other critical infrastructure positions,” Teamsters Local 320 said in press release. “Workers are demanding parity with other university union settlements and preservation of hard-fought gains won in mediation.”
“The University’s proposed wage increases align to what most university employees are eligible to receive,” University of Minnesota officials said in a statement to Flag Family News.
“The proposal includes two $500 lump-sum payments for all Teamsters-represented employees and market adjustments retroactive to July 1, 2025 for those in specific positions.”
According to a spokesperson for the University of Minnesota system, not all of the 40 Teamster-represented employees who work in facilities, dining services and farm-animal attendants have joined picket lines.
Flag Family News asked the union how many UMC workers are on strike, but officials didn’t immediately respond.
This comes two months after University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved tuition hikes and cuts to programs at all campuses because of $42 million in federal research funding cuts and “uncertain state funding.”
Click here for information on changes in dining services, facilities and operations, residential life and security, animal care, printing services and the mail room at UMC.
